theoudplayer

– Boston Show – Friday, May 13, 2011 (visit www.itsmyseat.com (search for VIZA) for ticket information)

– New York City Show – Saturday, May 14, 2011 (click here for tickets)

Viza is bringing its unique brand of hard fusion rock to the east coast for special shows in Boston and New York. The performances will be hosted at Boston’s ACEC on Friday, May 13, 2011 and New York City’s Highline Ballroom on Saturday, May 14. While Viza is in the midst of recording its highly anticipated album “Carnivalia” at Frank Zappa’s Utility Muffin Research Kitchen studios in Hollywood, the band is looking forward to upcoming shows across the US and Europe.

“Always a pleasure going back home to perform for many of my fellow Greek and east coast fans – we are in the studio working on our next release ‘Carnivalia’ which will probably be our most gaudy album to date,” stated frontman Knoup.

“The band is super excited about what’s in store for 2011,” stated Viza member Andrew Kzirian. “Ever since our return from our international tour last summer, we have been super motivated to write new music, grow as a group and continue connecting with fans,” he added.

Viza will be joined in the Big Apple on Saturday, May 14 by some of New York’s finest, and most popular, up and coming artists including Evan Russell Staffer, Naked, AnAka and Battle Circus. The Highline Ballroom is one of New York’s premier venues running through Manhattan’s Meatpacking District, West Chelsea and Hell’s Kitchen neighborhoods. As a special treat for fans throughout the world, the New York City show will be broadcast live at http://www.nycliverock.com/.

In Boston, Viza will perform on Friday, May 13 with the Arev Ensemble, a project dedicated to incorporating both traditional folk and contemporary instruments. The Arev Ensemble has received much acclaim for bringing their unique interpretations to audiences throughout North America. “The combination of Arev Ensemble’s traditional folk interpretations of music, and Viza’s modern fusion of international influences with rock, is a beautiful irony of how Armenian Diasporan artists represent music. As artists we need to continue to support and inspire each other. We are excited about sharing the stage with Viza!” commented Arev Ensemble vocalist Ani Zargarian.

“Carnivalia” is set for release in summer 2011, and the band’s trip east takes place against the backdrop of upcoming dates in Europe. Viza opened for System of a Down frontman Serj Tankian’s “Imperfect Harmonies” tour in Europe during the summer of 2010 and will return to Europe for festival dates this summer and beyond into 2011. Viza will also be joining Gogol Bordello and several other artists at the Rockwave Festival in Greece in early July.

Aside from a busy international touring schedule, Viza strives to express its art in support of humanitarian problems. Viza’s work in raising awareness of genocide prevention, feeding the homeless, and aiding orphans and social service centers is well documented, including coverage in the Los Angeles Times. On April 24, 2011, Viza will headline “Silence the Lies, Rock the Truth III”, a concert in Los Angeles dedicated to commemorating the Armenian Genocide and assisting the needy in Armenia.

“We believe in working with the community,” noted Kzirian. “We are artists and individuals but we are also citizens of good conscience – we want to do what we can to have our voice heard on issues that matter to us as a group,” he remarked.

Viza’s Boston performance, sponsored by the ACEC and Hamazkayin of Boston, will take place on Friday, May 13 at the ACEC, located at:

47 Nichols Avenue
Watertown, MA 02472

Doors open at 7 pm and tickets are on sale for $25. For ticket information please call (617) 926 6067 or visit www.itsmyseat.com (search for VIZA).

Viza’s New York City show will take place on Saturday, May 14 at the Highline Ballroom, located at:

431 W. 16th Street,
New York, NY 10011,
(Between 9th and 10th Avenues)

Doors open at 6 pm, the concert begins at 7:30 pm and tickets are on sale for $12 in advance, and $15 at the door. Viza showtime is 11 pm. Please visit http://www.experienceviza.com/Viza/Tour.html for tickets.

Check out www.experienceviza.com for show times, ticket information and more details in the coming weeks.

Check out some footage of Viza’s NYC show at the Knitting Factory here. Also here is a great article on the event from an activist’s perspective.

Here is what you get after 2 east coast shows, a lot of traveling, and hunger – Pat’s is the best…  Back to LA…  Pictures coming soon…

Check these articles published by the Armenian Weekly, Armenian Reporter and the Mirror Spectator discussing Viza and our May shows in New York City and Philadelphia.